Bishop Stephen Cottrell visited Australia recently. As one of the co-writers of Pilgrim: a course for the Christian journey, he was only too happy to sit down with Jonathan Sargeant and answer some questions about the course...
Read MoreArchbishop Phillip explores Anglican Identity and Ethos
After much discussion about how good the Archbishop’s address to Synod was this year, here’s the terrific section on Anglican identity, shared again with the PAX group at St Thomas’ Toowong a few weeks ago.
If you’ve ever wondered about the origins of the Anglican Church, have a look!
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Macbeth - Film Review
For a generation weaned on Game of Thrones, Justin Kurzel’s new version of Macbeth comes along at just the right time. Where that show’s author, George R R Martin seemingly gets more than his fair share of plot twists from the likes of Shakespeare, this version of the Scottish play takes a lean, bleak approach that matches the icy decline of its two main characters.
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The model of the Vibrant Faith team...
Innovation! The Youth Ministry Change Project
Anyone who’s been in youth ministry awhile shares some ongoing frustrations: Families are busy. Programs are not attended like they once were. It’s not clear that programs even work. What you have observed at your church is backed up by cross-denominational research: programs don’t build faith.
But now we know what does...
Read MoreSkills for Living with Diversity
Wondering if there are better ways to deal with religious and cultural diversity? If part of God's mission for the church is to discern where God is already at action in the community around us then that's something worth wondering about!
Here are the details of a program being run by Griffith Uni's Centre for Interfaith and Cultural Dialogue and Believing Women for a Culture of Peace...
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Free Resources for Freedom Sunday
There are estimated to be between 21 and 30 million people caught in slavery in the world today - suffering cruel and brutal treatment in every part of the world. The Freedom Sunday resource has been designed for local churches and can be adapted for use in different contexts around the Anglican Communion...
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Film Review: Woody Allen's Irrational Man
In the wake of public accusations and murmuring about the director, is it possible to ignore an artist’s private life and appreciate the art?
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A Doubter's Guide to the Bible
Dr John Dickson appeared on Brisbane's 612 ABC station recently to talk about his new book, A Doubter's Guide to the Bible. Introduced by announcer Steve Austin as a historian, Dickson gives a masterclass in apologetics.
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COMING SOON – Big BIBLE360 news
You’ve already heard about the new modules in the BIBLE360 series coming your way. That’s Introduction to the Prophets and Exploring Anglican Spiritualities, in case you missed that news. Both of those are dynamite and manage to combine learning and personal faith growth material too.
But on the way is some big news about the expanded “360” family of learning experiences for your parishes.
Read MoreThought about Christian Meditation?
How much time do you spend a week being still? How much time in actual intentional prayer?
Maybe you’ve wondered about experimenting with Christian Meditation but didn’t know where to start...or maybe you enjoy it and could use some new resources?
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Marks of Mission conference
The Common Life Missions Conference looks like it will be a good one. I've heard of a few people from our diocese (Southern Queensland) who will be heading across, including people from ABM and others.
With more than 50 workshops focusing on all aspects of the Marks and keynote speakers from New Zealand, Ireland and more it'd be hard to come away feeling like you'd had anything other than a great learning experience.
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The new Monasticism?
Spirituality expert Mark Berry is visiting from the UK to share about the new monasticism that Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is encouraging.
Read here to find out when he'll be in Brisbane...
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Abbey of the Arts
A website about contemplation, reflection and the expressive arts, Abbey of the Arts is staffed by experts in Christian spirituality.
With resources on offer both free and paid, the website is a treasure trove of programs, materials, videos and the like to enable us to get in touch with what might be a quieter side of our spirituality.
You can register for retreats here or even become part of a virtual online retreat. Wonder how that would work? Have a look and find out. It might just be possible!
New Lifelong Faith Journal - FREE!
You've heard me talk before about John Roberto's Lifelong Faith website. The new journal is out this week and features 82 pages of expert practitioner advice about parish faith formation in all its forms.
Find out more...
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Introducing Jesus
Looking for confirmation resources? Word Up was launched a year or two ago and can be useful for Confirmation sessions dealing with Jesus. Developed by a group of clergy and youth workers, and with the help of local film school students, the six webisodes deal with angles on Jesus, who he was, what he taught, how that makes a difference and who he is right now.
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How do others view your church?
In the journey of being faithful Anglican communities, objectivity is sometimes hard to come by. It's easy to get so into the groove of doing what we do that getting an outsider's point of view can be helpful. How welcoming are we? What is it like for a new person to walk in our doors?
Read MoreChildren's Church - Yay or Nay?
How we construct our worship so that it enables people to interact with God and God's story is a vexed question these days. Is it better to worship with all ages together? Is it better to arrange for separate educational activities for the young which match the purpose of the sermon for adults, but in another location? Or are the arguments for such bi-locational worship more about expediency for the adults left behind?
Read MoreWho are the Happiest People in Australia?
Happiness is a loaded term these days.
It seems to be the goal of many people but what does it mean? Is it a day by day proposition? Or is it a more long term sense of one's existence, in the same way that climate is different to daily weather? Is it the 'be all and end all'? Or is there more to life?
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New BIBLE360 modules trialled
Two new BIBLE360 modules, Introduction to the Prophets and Anglican Spiritualties have been trialled in parishes in our diocese. Find out more about these exciting programs and register your interest here...
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Church of England launches resource on death and dying
The Church of England has launched a new resource to assist in ministry with issues of death and dying. Find out more here...
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